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Far from a life of filterless French cigarettes and double shots of espresso and nubile nudes posing for you under the north-facing skylight in your garrett atelier, the life of an artist requires both an unwavering commitment to working every day and an undeniable passion for creative acts. Watching Monte Trevor Carlton paint in real time is the very definition of fearless and innovative creative energy—a fact made evident by the popularity of his work. Most widely known for creating performance pieces in which he paints a large canvas with beloved Disney characters in a matter of minutes, all set to music, Carlton is an painter of Disney Fine Art with artwork prominently displayed at most of the Disney theme parks around the world.

Born in 1972 in Olympia, Washington, the multi-talented artist took up painting while still in high school, though acting was his first creative passion. In fact, he decided to pass up an art scholarship in favor of accepting a dramatic arts scholarship at Skagit Valley College in northwest Washington. The following year he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, next attending the Lee Strasberg Acting Workshop. Amidst the endless cycle of auditions and callbacks to jumpstart his acting career, Carlton managed to pay rent and keep food on the table by working in a custom furniture store that specialized in antiquing and faux finish designs. It was here that his unique style was born - Using reclaimed lumber as his "canvas," he started painting images of vintage Americana with subjects ranging from pop icon celebrity to the hey day of jazz. It was the "A-Ha" moment that led directly to the development of his voice and maturing contributions to the art world.

Carlton's paintings often combine a distressed, wood-like appearance with a fresh, contemporary style. He accomplishes this by first painting a faux wood finish onto normal canvas. Once this is complete, Carlton paints the character and scene over the finish. He ends his process by removing some of the paint with sandpaper. This gives his work a sense of nostalgia, which he considers appropriate for Disney characters. "I want people to imagine they found my artwork in some old run down movie theater basement. Unpreserved and forgotten, an antique bearing the nostalgia and character that only time can bring."

After numerous gallery shows in Los Angeles and private commissions, along with a series of classic lobby card paintings, Carlton married his unique style with one of the most enduring American symbols, Mickey Mouse, discovering a final product that was to become his signature work. More recently he has been commissioned by Disney Studios to create limited edition artwork utilizing their characters in his unique style, including a cubist Jessica Rabbit artwork—a dramatic close up of Jessica giving her over-the-shoulder look with a cubism effect in bold colors—available as part of the Disney Originals Collection.

World Wide ArtWorld Wide Art is known for its wide selection of limited editions and originals by renowned artists, including the luminescent works of Trevor Carlton. Their expert staff also specializes in custom conservation framing. In business since 1996, World Wide Art is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a well-known art shop for both serious collectors and casual decorators. The staff at World-Wide-Art.com not only deals art, but are collectors and artists themselves who consider their work a labor of love and lifestyle of art appreciation.

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